AVMA competition tests next generation in assessing animal welfare

More than 270 students, coaches, veterinarians, and scientists attended the Fall 2025 AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC), held November 7-9 and hosted by Texas A&M University.

The annual competition, now in its 25th year, brings together undergraduate, veterinary, and graduate students representing nearly two dozen North American universities, in addition to AVMA member veterinarians, to see who can most accurately assess the treatment and wellbeing of animals in a mix of live and hypothetical scenarios.

Participants at this year's contest worked through scenarios involving tilapia, pet gerbils, captive Gaboon vipers, and dressage horses. After their assessments, participants presented their findings to veterinarians and scientists with specialized knowledge in animal welfare.

"The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest continues to be an exceptional platform for fostering critical thinking, scientific rigor, and ethical reasoning in future veterinary and animal science professionals," said AVMA President Michael Q. Bailey.

"Events like this not only challenge participants to evaluate complex, real-world welfare scenarios, but also reinforce the importance of veterinarians' leadership in advancing animal wellbeing across all species and settings," he continued. "We’re proud to support the next generation as they develop the skills and compassion that define our profession."

Dr. Sheilah Robertson, a previous AVMA Animal Welfare Award and World Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Award winner, delivered the keynote address, "How Do We Know They Hurt?" Her presentation, hosted by Charles River Laboratories, underscored the critical need to accurately recognize and assess animal pain across veterinary settings to improve animal welfare.

Dr. Robertson touched on such topics as species-specific behavioral indicators of acute and chronic pain, validated pain assessment tools, and cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence applications that analyze facial expressions and movement to detect pain.

This year’s expert panel comprised the following members:

• Colleen Brady, PhD, professor of agricultural sciences education and communication at Purdue University
• Marcia Chiasson, PhD, manager of the Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre at the University of Guelph
• Kate Pritchett-Corning, DVM, director of the Office of Animal Resources and attending veterinarian at Harvard University
• Wasseem Emam, PhD, founder and executive director at Ethical Seafood Research
• Jackson Gross, PhD, extension aquaculture specialist at the University of California-Davis
• Joanna Webb Hitzschky, DVM, veterinarian with Brookfield Zoo Chicago and Summertree Animal and Bird Clinic in Dallas and diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine
• Emma Kieffer, DVM, certified aquatic veterinarian and diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine
• Mary Lee, DVM, veterinarian with East Lake Animal Clinic in Watsonville, California
• Richard Mitchell, DVM, senior partner of Fairfield Equine Associates and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Sheilah Robertson, BVMS, PhD, senior medical director of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare, European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
• Stephen Smith, DVM, PhD, professor of infectious diseases of aquatic, wildlife, and exotic animals at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Carissa Wickens, PhD, associate professor and extension equine specialist at the University of Florida

Winners of the 2025 contest are as follows:

Live Assessment, Individual: Undergraduate, Junior Division—Hazel Frazier, Tuskegee University; Undergraduate, Senior Division—Christopher Jarrett, Texas Tech University; Veterinary Student Division—Kyra Davidson, The Ohio State University; and Graduate Student Division—Kristin Soucek, University of Minnesota.

Live Assessment, Teams: Undergraduate, Junior Division—Aurora University, Team 2; Undergraduate, Senior Division—Rutgers University, Scarlet Knights; Veterinary Student Division—University of California-Davis; and Graduate Student Division—The Ohio State University.

Veterinary Student Division, Individual: First place—Megan Guptill, University of Prince Edward Island; second place—Hadley Bryce, University of Guelph; third place—Kyra Davidson, The Ohio State University; fourth place—Mia Nanini, University of Guelph; and fifth place—Victoria Michel, University of Missouri.

Veterinary Student Division, Teams: First place— University of Guelph; second place—Colorado State University; third place—University of Prince Edward Island, Team 1; fourth place— University of Prince Edward Island, Team 2; and fifth place—University of Missouri, Team 1.

Graduate Division, Individual: First place—Hayley Sutherland, Purdue University; second place—Kristin Soucek, University of Minnesota; third place—Lyndsay Ritzler, The Ohio State University; fourth place—Bianca Florence Metallo, Texas Tech University; and fifth place—Gillian Forestell, University of Guelph.

Graduate Division, Teams: First place—Purdue University, Purdue Herd; second place—The Ohio State University; third place—Purdue University, Boilermaker Den; fourth place—University of Prince Edward Island; and fifth place—Colorado State University, Team Orange.

Undergraduate, Junior Division, Individual: First place—Dylan Archer, Texas A&M University; second place—Gabrielle Lawhon, University of Tennessee; third place—Grace Garland, Texas A&M University; fourth place—Faith Wilson, Aurora University; and fifth place—Kendall Kelledy, Colorado State University.

Undergraduate, Junior Division, Teams: First place—Texas A&M University, Team Gig ’Em; second place—Colorado State University, Team Gold; third place—Aims Community College, Team Red; fourth place—Aurora University, Team 2; and fifth place—University of Tennessee, Team Volunteer.

Undergraduate, Senior Division, Individual: First place—Evie Anderson, Colorado State University; second place—Anja Shull, University of Tennessee; third place—Maija Tollefson, University of Minnesota; fourth place—Amber Colvin, University of Minnesota; and fifth place—Samantha Maher, University of Minnesota.

Undergraduate, Senior Division, Teams: First place—Colorado State University, Team Green; second place—University of Guelph; third place—Rutgers University, Scarlet Knights; fourth place—University of Vermont, Team 1; and fifth place—University of Tennessee, Team Orange.

Dr. Jennifer Quammen, AVMA president-elect, attended and welcomed attendees to the event. She said she was inspired by participants’ skill and dedication on display at the assessment contest.

"Their ability to combine sound science with ethical reasoning to address complex scenarios shows both their deep understanding of the issues and their readiness to make a meaningful impact," Dr. Quammen said. "The enthusiasm and insight of these students and professionals give me tremendous confidence in the future of veterinary medicine, animal science, and the ongoing advancement of animal welfare."

Visit the AWJAC website to learn more about the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, which is funded in part through an educational grant from Merck Animal Health.

A version of this story appears in the January 2026 print issue of JAVMA